The All for Australia League (AFAL) was an Australian political movement during the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

. It was founded in early 1931 and claimed to have amassed 130,000 members by June 1931. Right-wing and anti-establishment in nature, the league had the backing of a number of prominent businessmen and industrialists. It was critical both of the Labor Party and the right-wing Nationalist Party. It primarily operated in Sydney, but also had branches in country New South Wales and absorbed a similar organisation in Victoria. The league eventually chose to co-operate with the existing Nationalist organisation at the 1931 federal election, helping preselect candidates for the new

United Australia Party The United Australia Party (UAP) was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. The party won four federal elections in that time, usually governing in coalition with the Country Party. It provided two prim ...

(UAP). After the election victory the league was absorbed by the UAP's state organisation.

Objectives

Five objectives were announced at the official launch of the league, held at

Killara Killara is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia north-west of the Sydney Central Business District in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council. East Killara is a separate suburb and ...

on 12 February 1931: # To create a unity of purpose amongst citizens and organisations to meet the economic and social crises. # To exert constitutional pressure on Governments in support of the following or other necessary measures: (a) Restoration of National Credit, (b) Economy of Governmental administration and expenditure, (c) Balancing of Federal and State budgets. # To set aside conflicting sectional interests for the sake of unity of purpose. # To conjoin the interests of Country and City, that is, all producing and consuming interests. # To bring about the whole hearted cooperation of employer and employee. According to labour historian Geoffrey Robinson, the league "posed a major challenge to the established conservative parties", but ultimately "failed because Australian conservatives regrouped and moved back towards the centre".

Membership

The league undertook an extensive recruiting campaign, mostly in Sydney but also in some country areas. It claimed to have gained 30,000 members within three weeks after its launch, rising to 40,000 a week later. Up to 3,500 badges were being issued each day, bearing the distinctive emblem of a six-pointed star. By the end of March 1931, the league claimed 99 branches, including fifteen outside Sydney. The membership stood at 116,000 on 14 April and 130,000 by the end of June. Most of the league's leadership had not previously been involved in politics. The executive was "strongly representative of managerial and professional men". Former engineering professor

Alexander James Gibson Alexander James Gibson (1876–1960) was the first professor of engineering at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Alexander James Gibson was born on 18 December 1876 at Hanover Square, London, son of Edward Morris G ...

was elected president of the league. Other members of the league's provisional executive included: *Major-General Gordon Bennett, brother of Alfred Bennett *Andrew Craig, treasurer of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce *Albert Heath, president of the Sydney and Suburban Timber Merchants' Association *

Cecil Hoskins Sir Cecil Harold Hoskins (1889–1971) was an Australian industrialist associated with the iron and steel industry. He is notable mainly for the establishment of the steel industry at Port Kembla, the company Australian Iron & Steel, and its sub ...

, chairman and managing director of Australian Iron and Steel *Norman Keyser, managing director of General Industries *Robert A. Malloch, managing director of Dangar, Gedye & Malloch, meat preservers * Sydney Snow, vice-president of the Retail Traders' Association *Frederick Walker, managing director of F. J. Walker, meat exporters Later members of the executive included: * Alfred Bennett, manager of radio station

2GB 2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by parent company Nine Radio, a division of Nine Entertainment Co., who also own sister station 2UE. 2GB broadcasts on 873 kHz, AM. In 2010, 2GB held 14.7% of the total rad ...

, founder of the Who's for Australia? League, brother of Gordon Bennett * Sir Henry Braddon, member of the New South Wales Legislative Council *Charles M. McDonald, president of the New South Wales Employers' Federation *

Mildred Muscio Florence Mildred Muscio (28 April 1882 – 17 August 1964) was an Australian activist for the rights of women and children, feminist and school principal. Early life and education Muscio was born Florence Mildred Fry on 28 April 1882 at Cope ...

, feminist, representative of the women's committee *Olof Oberg, timber merchant and president of the anti-communist Sane Democracy League Braddon, Craig, Heath, and Oberg resigned from the executive over the league's attacks on the state Nationalist Party.

Objectives

Membership

References

Further reading